Open to Ridicule

I did it. I made my goal for November. No, I wasn’t trying to write a novel in thirty days. My goals are not vast. Many caution against being obsessed with word counts. It was simply a very hectic month and I needed to put out 1,500 words Sunday.

So I am filling in a few openings in “Partisans of the Blue; A Dauntless Recruit” and I’ll be done with the first draft. Another common piece of advice is to go for quantity, not quality, when writing your first draft. I would have to agree, unless you have not written much in a long time. Be attentive to your sentence structure, spelling and grammar. Refresh the knowledge that you have not had to access since high school or college. Writing makes one a better writer; another sage piece of advice. Once you have noticeably regained forgotten lessons, go for it.

Most of what makes your writing, different than the story, good to great happens in the editing process and progress.

To protect my work I do not wish to convey too much of my next book. However, in this digital and connective age of the hacker you want to protect your work by cataloguing the process.

Our villain of “The Partisans of the Blue” lives in my hometown at a time when there are no longer any political parties, but for the government. These members of the non-party hold weekly gatherings to promote the agenda and many to pursue more nefarious pleasures. Of course the gathering includes a seven course meal. Our villain is recorded enjoying two such meals in the course of the story.

So, here is the menu I created from some basic research. The accompanying wines are not clearly specified. Any epicureans who would like to comment or ridicule, I would be appreciative of your advice.

-Beluga Black Caviar ( with crackers) and Champaign.

-Tomato Basil Crab Bisque

-Whole Maine Lobster with drawn butter; serve with a White Burgundy

-Filet Mignon with Braised Vegetables; here our villain, to establish him as a man of particular tastes, has ordered the French Syrah replaced with a specific Pinot Noir of his liking.

-Goat Cheese salad with a Raspberry-Walnut Vinaigrette

-choice in desserts; Chocolate Soufflé or Baked Alaska

-Coffee

Then we have a meal in which our villain was called in to resolve a dispute between the head cook, who desired to serve his courses with a selection of beers, and the sommelier.

-Oysters Rockefeller with Champaign (yes, he sided with the sommelier)

-Fennel and Almond Soup

-Parmesan Encrusted Trout with Hollandaise Sauce

-Spice Lamb Chop with Chickpea Purée

-Rustic Baby Kale Salad with Raisins Walnuts and Goat Cheese

-Baked Apple with Raisins, Cranberries and Apricots

-Chestnut Praline Latte

Possible problem with this last menu; this would be in mid-June.

Epicureans, release the hounds, let loose the war machines, storm the gates, breech the walls.